BANGKOK: Water-spraying elephants, raves and boisterous, street-blocking water fights — Thailand's Buddhist new year arrived with a splash on Saturday, a once calm festival now celebrated with a more raucous edge.

Paying respects to elders and sprinkling water over figures of Buddha at local temples are some of the traditions of the three-day new year celebration — known as Songkran — but the holiday also has a rowdier side involving alcohol-fueled revelry among its youth.

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